Process for treating poultry carcasses to control bacterial contamination and/or growth

ABSTRACT

Salmonella, campylobacter and other bacteria can be removed, reduced or retarded on poultry carcasses by treating poultry with a treatment solution having an alkaline pH and containing an alkali metal orthophosphate, e.g., trisodium orthophosphate.

This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 712,260 filed Jun. 7, 1991 and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,739 issued Sep. 1, 1992 which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 530,131 filed May 29, 1990 and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,922 issued Dec. 3, 1991 which is a continuation of Ser. No. 308,357 filed Feb. 9, 1989, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to an improved process for reducing the level of and retarding the growth of bacteria, such as salmonella, in poultry processing and on raw poultry without causing organoleptic depreciation thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Poultry is processed, after slaughtering, by scalding to assist in defeathering, defeathering by machine, washing, eviscerating and chilling prior to packing. These treatments are controlled to avoid causing a change in the appearance characteristics of poultry which would make it unsalable.

Poultry, after eviscerating, shows high levels of salmonella bacteria on the surface of the carcass. A large part of carcass contamination with salmonella can be removed by water washing. While salmonella can be easily killed by heat, such as during cooking, colony forming units of bacteria can attach and/or reside in the regular and irregular surfaces of the skin, multiply and, thereafter, contaminate working surfaces, hands and utensils. Food spoilage and illness can result from this carry over of bacteria or cross-contamination from the infected carcass to surfaces not heated sufficiently to cause thermal destruction of the bacteria.

Extensive research has been conducted by the art to uncover an economical system for reducing salmonella contamination of poultry carcasses without causing organoleptic depreciation. Poultry feathers carry large amounts of salmonella which can contaminate the carcass during scalding and defeathering. Improper evisceration can also be a source of contamination. The use of acids such as lactic or acetic acid, at levels sufficient to effect bacteriological control, causes organoleptic deterioration of the poultry. At acid levels low enough to avoid organoleptic deterioration of the poultry, bacteriostatic effects are reduced.

A treatment system must be economical, easy to use, compatible with food manufacturing, and not change the organoleptic properties of the poultry. Any change in the appearance of the poultry would make the same unsalable.

It has been reported that the thermal death rate of salmonella can be increased during scalding by elevating the pH of the scald water to pH 9.0±0.2. Agents such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, and trisodium phosphate have been reported as effective pH adjusting agents for use in increasing the thermal death rate of the bacteria. Trisodium phosphate was reported as least effective in increasing the death rate. Sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, while effective bacteriostats, can effect the surface of the carcass adversely. Propionic acid and glutaraldehyde, which were also tried as treating agents, are reported as possible having unfavorable effects on plucking. See, "The Effect of pH Adjustment on the Microbiology of Chicken Scald-tank Water With Particular Reference to the Death Rate of Salmonella," T. J. Humphrey, et al., Journal of Applied Bacteriology, 1981, 51, pp. 517-527.

T. J. Humphrey, et al. have also reviewed the pH effect of scald water on salmonella on chicken skin. See "The Influence of Scald Water pH on the Death Rates of Salmonella typhimurium and Other Bacteria Attached to Chicken Skin," Journal of Applied Bacteriology, 1984, 57 (2), pp. 355-359. Scald water adjusted to pH 9±0.2 as in the 1981 paper can help to reduce external and internal cross-contamination of carcasses by salmonellas.

The results reported in the first article are based on assays of samples of scald water taken from the scald tank. The article does not show the effect of the agents on bacterial colonies on the surface of the poultry or the organoleptic effect on the poultry meat or skin.

The second paper teaches that pH adjustment of scald water to pH of 9±0.2 can be used to improve the hygiene of chicken carcasses during plucking by lowering the bacterial carry over from the scald tank.

These references are limited to the scald tank and use relatively low pH conditions and low concentration pH adjusting agents and do not show any long term effect of the agents on the surface of the poultry since the scald water solution and any agents therein are washed off after defeathering.

Humphrey, et al. recognize that plucking and subsequent evisceration cause further contamination. The improvements in scalding hygiene reported in their 1984 paper and in their earlier work [1981] help to reduce the growth rate of pathogens on carcass surfaces during plucking but have no measurable effect on the shelf-life or safety of chilled carcasses because of further contamination during evisceration. The organisms responsible for spoilage of meat of this type are added during cold storage or during later stages of processing. (Humphrey, et al. 1984 at page 359). Humphrey, et al. do not teach reducing the potential for salmonellosis by reducing the incidence and population of salmonella organisms.

Humphrey, et al., 1984, also do not show the organoleptic effect of their treatment on the poultry carcasses, much of which is undesirable.

Attempts have been made to pasteurize poultry meat by treating the meat with a solution containing agents such as lactic acid, acetic acid, sodium carbonate, sodium borate, sodium chloride, potassium hydroxide, chlorine and EDTA. All treatments, except sodium borate, sodium chloride and sodium carbonate reduced the visual acceptability of the meat. Chlorine failed to destroy bacteria on the surface of the poultry but would be expected to control salmonella in water. See, Chemical Pasteurization of Poultry Meat, J. S. Teotia, Dissertation Abstracts Int'l. B., 1974, 34(a), 4142.

The following references treat various meat products to retain moisture, texture and tenderness in meat. U.S. Pat. No. 3,782,975 to Zyss issued Jan. 1, 1974 teaches polyphosphate curing of fresh primal cuts of meat with a curing solution at pH 6 to 8, free of sodium, and containing about 1.0 to 20% by weight of a water soluble phosphate which can include orthophosphate.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,775,543 to Zyss issued Nov. 27, 1973 uses 0.2 to 20% by weight of a phosphate (which can be orthophosphate) treatment solution based on the ingredient mix of processed meat. The phosphate is used as a binding agent. Alkaline pH is found to decrease shelf-life. Salmonella is killed by cooking not by phosphate.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,493,392 to Swartz issued Feb. 3, 1970 pumps tuna with a phosphate treating solution including orthophosphate to improve yield of desired light flesh, to improve odor (less fishy) and to render the meat more tender and less dry. Pumping injects solution deep into the meat or fish and is not a surface treatment. Swartz uses mono and dialkali orthophosphate in Example IV and reports poor weight retention results compared to polyphosphates. U.S. Pat. No. 3,620,767 to Swartz issued Nov. 16, 1971 pumps bonito with a salt and phosphate including orthophosphate but no example is given. See also Canadian Patent 847,280 issued Jul. 21, 1970 to Swartz. These references employ polyphosphates for their water binding properties.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,770,548 teaches the anticaking properties of trialkali metal orthophosphates.

Trisodium phosphate has also been found to be effective in inhibiting the growth of blue mold in cuts and bruises in fruit by treating the broken surface with the solution of trisodium phosphate (U.S. Pat. No. 1,744,310).

Kohl, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,681,091 issued Aug. 1, 1972 teaches treating foods including fish fillet with 10% solution of medium chain length polyphosphates.

Freund, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,957,770 teach improving the properties of meat with a composition which can include inorganic orthophosphates such as disodium hydrogen orthophosphate. Low concentrations of phosphate are employed.

Cheng, U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,139 issued Jul. 28, 1987 teaches a process for prepackaged fresh red meat at retail wherein the shelf-life of the meat is increased by treatment with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal salt or certain phosphate compounds, a reducing compound such as ascorbic acid and a sequestering or chelating agent such as citric acid. The phosphate can be an orthophosphate, pyrophosphates, tripolyphosphates and hexametaphosphates and will vary in the way the buffer solution is applied to the meat giving a pH below neutral.

Szczesniak, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,075,357 issued Feb. 21, 1978 teaches salt combined with a secondary salt selected from alkali metal salts of organic acids and trisodium orthophosphate, polyphosphate, metaphosphate and ultraphosphate. Citrates are preferred combined with sodium chloride. These mixtures are used to control water activity in low moisture cooked food which have neutral pH.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,705,040 to Bynagte issued Dec. 5, 1972 teaches use of a solution of water, 2 to 3% acid pyrophosphates and 2 to 15% sodium phosphates including sodium orthophosphate to soak shrimp for at least two minutes followed by cooking for three minutes, cooling and peeling. The process improves the amount of shrimp meat recovered from the shell by reducing the strength of the under skin of the shrimp. Where sodium orthophosphate is employed in Example IV it is employed at 2%.

The preceding patents which pump or treat meat or fish with phosphates generally use needles to inject or mix into meat formulations a phosphate solution to bind water and improve texture of the product. Neutral pH formula's are employed for these purposes. The patents do not teach the present invention of treating the surface of freshly slaughtered poultry with trialkali metal orthophosphate at pH 11.5 or greater to remove, reduce or retard bacterial contamination or growth on the poultry.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,892 to Ueno, et al. issued Jun. 3, 1986 teaches ethanol used to sterilize foods and machines can be enhanced by use of an aqueous solution of an alkali carbonate which may also contain a trialkali metal phosphate. Trialkali metal orthophosphate as well as sodium carbonate and other phosphates is used to treat a broth to reduce E. coli in Table 1. This patent fails to recognize that trisodium phosphate per se can remove, reduce or retard bacterial contamination on poultry. Orthophosphate is used only in combination with ethanol which is a popular disinfectant for machinery and food in Japan.

Thomson, et al. "Phosphate and Heat Treatments to Control Salmonella and Reduce Spoilage and Rancidity on Broiler Carcasses," Poultry Science, 1979, pp. 139-143, treats poultry with 6% kena phosphate which is a polyphosphate blend of 90% sodium tripolyphosphate and 10% sodium hexametaphosphate. The phosphates did not significantly or consistently affect salmonella survival or total bacterial growth.

It is known that the shelf-life of chicken carcasses can be increased 1 to 2 days by chilling the poultry in a solution of 6% sodium tripolyphosphate/0.7% tetrasodium pyrophosphate (Kena-available from Stauffer Chemical Company Division of Rhone-Poulenc Inc.). See, The Antimicrobial Effect Of Phosphate With Particular Reference To Food Products, L. L. Hargreaves, et al., The British Food Manufacturing Industries Research Association, Scientific and Technical Surveys, No. 76, April 1972, pp. 1-20 at page 12. Many patents and articles suggest the use of polyphosphates in preserving meat and fish products.

In addition, it is also stated in the Hargreaves reference at page 7 that G. Pacheco and V. M. Dias in an article entitled Bacteriolytic Action of Phosphates, Mems Institute Oswaldo Cruz, 52 (2), pp. 405-414, reported on the bacteriolytic action of solutions of monosodium, disodium, trisodium and dipotassium orthophosphates on dead and living cells of Salmonella typhosa, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Trisodium phosphate dodecahydrate is stated to have the greatest lytic action. This reference does not relate to treating poultry.

British Patent 935,413 teaches treating raw poultry in the chill tank with a non-cyclic polyphosphate. It is taught that this method provides increased preservation of the poultry flesh by decreasing exudate and thereby decreasing spread of bacteria.

The extensive research conducted by the art has been unsuccessful in providing a treatment to reduce salmonella levels of poultry carcasses without causing extensive organoleptic depreciation.

The invention provides a poultry carcass wash process which removes or reduces existing salmonella contamination as well as retards further contamination or growth without affecting the organoleptic properties of the poultry carcasses.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a process for treating poultry carcasses to remove or retard bacterial growth, such as salmonella growth, without affecting the organoleptic properties of the poultry carcasses.

It has been discovered that during poultry processing from about 4% or more, preferably 8% or more, trialkali metal orthophosphate may be added to processing water at any point in the process to elevate the treating solution to above pH 11.5 and remove, reduce or retard bacterial contamination and/or growth on poultry. We prefer to use the aqueous phosphate water solution at places during poultry processing where the treatment solution can be filtered and recycled with make up water to maintain the orthophosphate concentration at above about 4% and the pH above 11.5.

We prefer to employ the trialkali orthophosphate treatment immediately after the scalding treatment either before or after defeathering or during washing of the poultry prior to evisceration or preferably during the inside/outside wash after evisceration. These treatments are conducted using a hot solution and recycling the solution with filtering to economically utilize the phosphate. We can also treat the poultry prior to but preferably after the chill tank particularly using an inside/outside wash. After the chill tank we treat with a cold orthophosphate solution generally below 10° C. It is also possible to treat the poultry after cutting and prior to packaging with cold orthophosphate solution.

The process comprising treating poultry at a temperature below that which would cause organoleptic depreciation in the poultry which normally is below 5° C., preferably below 45° C. Cooled poultry is treated below about 27° C. The treatment solution comprising trialkali metal orthophosphates, said orthophosphate being present in an amount and said poultry being treated for a time sufficient to remove, reduce, or retard bacteriological contamination of the poultry, said orthophosphate agent being present in amounts insufficient to cause substantial organoleptic depreciation of the poultry. Such treatment solutions have a pH above 11.5.

It is possible but not necessary to treat the poultry, including eviscerated and defeathered poultry, with a blend of a major amount of trialkali metal orthophosphate and a corresponding minor amount of a basic agent, said blend being present in an amount and said poultry being treated for a time sufficient to remove, reduce or retard bacteriological contamination and/or growth on the poultry. The basic agent is used in the blend in amounts insufficient to cause substantial organoleptic depreciation of the poultry. The treatment solution has a pH above 11.5. The trialkali metal orthophosphate is always present per se or in a major amount of the treatment solution with the proviso that alcohol and ascorbic acid are never part of the treatment solution. Preferably, the treatment time is longer than about 5 minutes, if a dip solution application is used, although much shorter times have been found effective. We prefer to use the trialkali metal orthophosphates per se. In any case, from about 4% or more orthophosphate is used.

Specifically, it has been discovered that poultry can be treated with a solution containing from about 4% to about saturation of orthophosphate in the aqueous solution. Preferably, about 4% to about 12% and most preferably about 8% or more trisodium or tripotassium orthophosphate dodecahydrate or an equivalent amount of the anhydrous compound, is effective. It has been found that treatment with the trisodium or tripotassium orthophosphate gave essentially the same effectiveness as sodium hydroxide or phosphoric acid/sodium hydroxide without the adverse effects on the meat or skin which accompany the use of the sodium hydroxide or phosphoric acid/sodium hydroxide blend.

By the use of this process, poultry carcasses can be washed economically and simply with food grade products to achieve salmonella control without organoleptic depreciation of the carcass. Phosphate salts can remain on the poultry surface to provide a surface less conducive to supporting bacterial growth, particularly in the highly irregular surfaces of the skin without fear of carcass degradation or impairment of flavor.

Other benefits will become apparent from the description which follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Trialkali metal phosphate is an orthophosphate salt of the formula R₃ PO₄ with a formula for the sodium salt being Na₃ PO₄ and an equivalent formula for the tripotassium compounds. R is an alkali metal of sodium or potassium. Trisodium phosphate has a minimum of 41.5% P₂ O₅ and a typical pH in a 1% solution of about 11.8.

Trisodium phosphate is also available as the dodecahydrate of the formula:

    Na.sub.3 PO.sub.4.12H.sub.2 O

In commerce, the dodecahydrate is available in a technical grade with a formula of:

    5(Na.sub.3 PO.sub.4.12H.sub.2 O) NaOH;

or in the food grade with a formula of:

    4(Na.sub.3 PO.sub.4.12H.sub.2 O) NaOH;

Both forms have a typical pH in 1% solution of 11.8. Preferably, the trisodium phosphate dodecahydrate (either form) is used. As used herein, trisodium phosphate is intended to include tripotassium phosphate as well as all forms of those compounds. Food grade products are intended to be used for food uses.

This invention is applicable to all types of poultry including chickens, turkeys, geese, capon, cornish hens, squab, ducks, guinea, fowl and pheasants. By poultry or carcass, it is intended to cover whole birds as well as parts.

The application of an aqueous trialkali orthophosphate solution of pH greater than 11.5 can be made at any point in the process. We prefer, however, to employ the orthophosphate solution in a manner which allows recovery of the solution after treating the poultry. The recovered solution is then filtered to remove insolubles and water and trialkali metal orthophosphate added to maintain the concentration at an effective amount to remove, reduce or retard bacteriological contamination of the poultry. The poultry can either be subjected to contact with the treatment solution in a trough or may be subjected to solution sprayed inside and outside the poultry depending on where in the process treatment is made. The poultry may be treated at several points in the process to further remove, reduce or retard bacteria contamination or growth on the poultry.

It is possible to employ a trough through which the poultry is transported by chain shackles or a spray through nozzles for from several seconds to minutes. Residual treatment solution remains after the actual contact with the poultry and such residual solution is further effective in removing, reducing or retarding bacterial contamination and/or growth.

While treatment can be conducted at various places in the poultry treatment process we prefer several places where we can minimize the quantity of treatment solution employed, minimize the treatment time to that effective to produce the desired removal, reduction or retardation of bacteriological growth and/or contamination of the poultry. After scalding the poultry during feather removal we have found we may treat the poultry in a trough for a minimum of several seconds at a temperature of about 50° to 60° C. prior to the singe step of processing. This helps reduce bacterial contamination. The treatment solution is removed in the subsequent washing step prior to evisceration. While it is possible to treat with orthophosphate during washing, the large quantity of water employed and regulations regarding the recycling of wash water preclude economical treatment. However, treatment is possible either directly after washing and before evisceration or after evisceration preferably employing a spray treatment solution at a temperature between 20° to 45° C. When treating after evisceration, it is possible to spray the treatment solution on the outside as well as the inside of the eviscerated poultry. Treatment can take several seconds or longer with the treatment solution remaining on the poultry until its introduction into the chill tank. It is also possible to employ a post-chill treatment with trialkali orthophosphate solution maintained at below 27° C., preferably below 10° C. The solution may be applied in a trough or tank but is preferably sprayed on the inside and outside of the poultry. The treatment solution is then recovered and recycled while solids are removed using filters and make up water and phosphate added to maintain orthophosphate concentration.

We have found that trace amounts of the treatment solution can remain on the poultry (a few hundredths of a percent) to further remove, reduce or retard bacterial contamination and/or growth of the poultry. A further treatment can be made after cutting and prior to packaging of the poultry using either a spray or dip process.

We have found that anywhere from one second to two hours of treatment is effective in removing, reducing or retarding bacterial contamination, particularly salmonella on poultry. The time need only be an effective amount of time to produce the desired result and can easily be determined for this particular point in the process where treatment is conducted.

Equipment for recycling and removing solids is generally available from manufactures of meat pickling equipment. In general a rotary filter manufactured by Townsend of Des Moines, Iowa can be used to remove large particles while a screening system also available from Townsend can be used for smaller particle removal. The equipment should be made for stainless steel, plastic or other material resistant to the corrosive action of trialkali metal orthophosphate.

We prefer to employ saturated solutions of the orthophosphate which are highly effective in removing, reducing or retarding bacterial contamination. Saturated solutions of up to 40% are possible but usually from about 4%, preferably about 8% or greater of trisodium orthophosphate is effective. The phosphate may be combined with other materials if desired with the proviso that alcohols (ethanol or the like) and reducing agents like ascorbic acid are not employed. In other words the treatment solution does not contain alcohol. We do not employ any antibacterial which are detrimental to the organoleptic properties of the poultry such as high concentrations of sodium hydroxide or other harsh alkali or alcohol. We prefer to employ the trialkali metal phosphate per se to treat the carcass. Dispersions of orthophosphate can be used but appear to have little advantage over use of a solution for treating the carcass.

Where the chicken is treated just prior to packaging, it is possible to treat with orthophosphate combined with other materials so long as alcohol is not present. In processing before or after evisceration but before cutting, we prefer to employ trialkali metal orthophosphate per se or at least with the proviso that alcohol is not employed.

In spraying the treatment solution on the poultry we employ from 20 to 150 psi to cause a spray of medium particle size to impact the inside and outside of the poultry with sufficient force for good cleaning without any depreciation on the appearance or taste of the poultry.

After the processing of the poultry to defeather and eviscerate, the carcass is washed with water or other acceptable cleaning solutions. Agitation, sonification and other mechanical means can be applied to assist in washing. Preferably, the carcass is then treated with a treatment solution containing from about 4% to about 12% and preferably from about 6% to about 12% and most preferably from about 8% to about 12% by weight trialkali metal orthophosphate based on the weight of the solution. The carcasses can be dipped in the treatment solution. If so, the carcass or the solution is preferably agitated to insure a good flow of the treatment solution over all surfaces and in all crevices of the carcass. The treatment solution can also be applied by mechanical sprayers, preferably under high pressure to insure good contact. Sonification may be employed at either sonic or ultrasonic frequencies. Any other means of contacting the poultry with the treatment solution, such as in a rotating drum, can also be used. The treatment can also be included in the usual chill tank treatment of the poultry. The treatment solution preferably contains only trialkali metal orthophosphate. The treatment solution does not contain alcohol.

The treatment solution is preferably comprised only of trialkali metal orthophosphate. For purposes of adjusting pH, minor amounts of other agents can also be added. These can be illustrated by sodium carbonate, sodium and/or potassium hydroxide, alkali metal polyphosphate such as, sodium tripolyphosphate or acids such as phosphoric acid. Since hydroxides have an adverse effect on the organoleptic characteristics of the poultry flesh, it is preferred to avoid the use of these basic agents altogether or to use amounts which have no effect on the organoleptic characteristics of the poultry flesh. The basic agent, if used, is used in an amount insufficient with the alkali metal orthophosphate to cause organoleptic deterioration of the poultry flesh. By "minor amounts" is meant less than 50% by weight of the combined dry weight of the trialkali metal orthophosphate and the basic agent usually up to 45% and in all cases in an amount insufficient to cause organoleptic deterioration.

The ingredients in the treatment solution are used in amounts sufficient to provide a pH of above about 11.5 and preferably within the range from about 11.6 to about 13.0. The pH level insures the treatment solution will remove, reduce or retard bacterial contamination or growth. We prefer to employ equipment which recycles the solution for economy, filters solids from the recycled solution for cleanliness, adds make up water to maintain the solutions volume and adds trialkali metal orthophosphate to maintain a saturated or near saturated solution. While a saturated solution insures maximum concentration of the phosphate, we have found that concentrations of about 4% to saturation and more particularly about 8% to near saturation are desirable. At cooler temperatures, below 27° C. and 10° C. a solution containing about 4% to about 12% trialkali metal orthophosphate and more preferably about 6% or more and most preferably about 8% or more is effective to reduce, remove or retard contamination and/or growth of bacteria especially salmonella in poultry processing. At all levels of about 4 % or more trialkali orthophosphate, the pH will remain above about 11.5 and preferably from pH 11.6 to about 13.5, most preferably 12.0 to 13.5.

The treatment is conducted under good poultry processing conditions. Cool temperatures and cool treatment solutions are used after chilling the eviscerated poultry to avoid undue deterioration of the meat. The treatment solution temperature post-chill is preferably less than 27° C., more preferably less than 10° C.

The poultry carcasses are contacted with the treatment solution for a period of time sufficient to reduce bacterial contamination over and above that obtainable with pure water. Treatment dwell time is also sufficient, under the conditions of the treatment, to contact all contactable exposed surfaces of the poultry carcasses, effect a washing of the surfaces and thus contact substantially all colony forming units on the surface of the poultry. The contact time is sufficient to allow upon drying, the deposition of an even layer of trialkali metal orthophosphate on the exposed surfaces of the poultry to prevent or retard further bacterial growth.

At atmospheric pressure, in a dip tank, dwell times ranging from a few seconds such as two or more seconds after the scald tank and after about 30 seconds to about 30 minutes where processing conditions permit have been found to be effective. Dwell times can be reduced using a pressure spray. Longer dwell times can be used if the solution concentration is not excessive.

Pressure spraying is particularly useful when both the inside and outside of the eviscerated poultry can be treated. We employ a rotating nozzle for the inside spray and insert the nozzle fully into the cavity resulting from evisceration so that all parts of the exposed flesh, tissue and bone is contacted with a spray of treatment solution. Outside sprays are designed to cover the total outside of the poultry. When treatment is employed after poultry pieces are cut, we employ a spray to cover all surface area. Where possible we allow the treatment solution to remain on the poultry to further reduce, remove or retard bacterial contamination and/or growth. Often we allow the solution to dry on the poultry to further reduce, remove or retard bacterial growth.

The spray is propelled using from 20 to 150 psi pressure through spray nozzles designed to vigorously wash the surface without damaging the meat.

When using dip tanks or troughs the poultry is generally pulled through the solution using a chain and shackle system. Although this method, which permits the phosphate treatment solution to contact the entire poultry surface is suitable, agitation in such tanks will improve contact of poultry and solution and normally reduces the time of contact required for good results.

Immediately after treatment, the poultry can be processed following normal processing conditions such as draining and chilling. A unique feature of the invention is the ability to allow the trialkali metal phosphate to dry on the surface of the poultry without the need to wash. It is therefore preferred to combine trialkali metal phosphate wash at some point after the chill tank. The residual phosphate left on the poultry surface provides reduced bacteriological activity particularly in the cracks and pockets of the skin.

While it is possible to treat the poultry at any point in the process and at any temperature and time which does not harm the product, we have identified several areas where we believe the treatment will be most effective. One or more treatments with the alkali metal orthophosphate during processing are possible and often desirable. Any treatment temperature from 0° to 70° C. for process times of several seconds to hours depending on the temperature is feasible.

After scalding and before defeathering, treatment provides a means of washing undesired contamination including bacterial contamination from the poultry as well as providing a coating of treatment solution on the poultry as it is exposed to defeathering where further bacterial contamination can occur. This treatment is conducted at 40° to 70° C., preferably 45° to 65° C. for a short period of time.

It is also possible to treat the poultry after defeathering and before evisceration although we prefer to treat evisceration where both the inside and outside of the poultry may be thoroughly sprayed with treatment solution at 20° to 40° C., preferably 25° to 35° C. and allow treatment solution to remain on the bird entering the chill equipment.

It is also preferred to treat the poultry post-chilling with a treatment spray inside and outside of the poultry. This step helps remove any undesired material present in the chill tank and treats any additional bacteria which may have contacted the poultry in the chill tank. Again, we prefer to allow the solution to remain on the poultry including drying and after packaging. Where cutting of the processed poultry is done, we can treat the cut poultry with trialkali metal orthophosphate solution and then wash the poultry or pack the parts as is.

Leaving the treatment solution on the poultry provides a further opportunity to remove, reduce or retard bacterial contamination and/or growth on the poultry including packaged poultry.

While the present invention is primarily directed at reducing salmonella contamination of the poultry, it is also intended to include all bacterial growth which is affected by the stated trialkali metal orthophosphates. In addition to salmonella, other bacteria which are measured by total plate count are significantly reduced.

Affected bacterial species can be easily determined by one of ordinary skill and thus all such bacteria as are affected are considered included in the invention.

The present invention will be illustrated in the Examples which follow. The poultry used in the Examples 1 to 13 are conventional chicken broiler stock weighing dressed from about 0.9 to about 1.1 kilograms.

EXAMPLES 1 TO 6

Grade A broilers from a processing plant after rinsing and before being chilled in the chill tank were packed in coolers with "CO₂ snow", transported, separated and placed on ice and kept in a 1.1° C. (34° F.) cooler overnight. The birds were dipped for 1 minute in an inoculum of 10⁷ -10⁸ CFU/ml of a freshly grown nalidixic acid resistant strain of Salmonella typhimurium harvested from BHI broth and then allowed to drain for a specific time. After the allotted draining time, 5 broilers were submerged and agitated in each treatment solution for a specified dwell time. Each agent was placed in a separate tared clean plastic container. Water and ice were added until 20.4 kilograms was obtained with a temperature of approximately 7.2° C. (45° F.). One inoculated broiler was immersed in water as control and one inoculated bird was retained without washing as a control.

After treatment, the birds were individually placed in Cryovac plastic bags and were either analyzed immediately (two birds plus the inoculated control) or placed in a 2.2° C. (36° F.) incubator to determine the effect of treatment after 5 and 8 days storage at 2.2° C. (36° F.). Thus, seven birds were used for each treatment. The following conditions were used:

                  TABLE I                                                          ______________________________________                                         Ex-   Treatment  Amount/   Inoculum Treatment                                  ample Agent      20.4 Kg   Drain Time                                                                              Dwell Time                                 ______________________________________                                         1     Na.sub.3 PO.sub.4                                                                         2.4    kg   2   minutes                                                                               30  seconds                            2     Na.sub.3 PO.sub.4                                                                         0.78   kg   1   hour   15  minutes                            3     Na.sub.3 PO.sub.4                                                                         1.6    kg   2   minutes                                                                               15  minutes                            4     Na.sub.3 PO.sub.4                                                                         1.59   kg   1   hour   15  minutes                            5     50% Na.sub.3 PO.sub.4                                                                     1.59   kg   1   hour   15  minutes                                  *50% STP                                                                 6     Water      0.0         2   minutes                                                                               15  minutes                            ______________________________________                                          *STP means sodium tripolyphosphate                                       

ENUMERATION OF NALIDIXIC ACID-RESISTANT SALMONELLA

Nalidixic acid-resistant salmonella were enumerated using the whole carcass wash procedure as prescribed by the National Broiler Council. Each bird was weighed and the resulting weight was divided by 3.8 to determine the number of ml of lactose broth plus 0.6% tergitol to be added to the bag. The bird, broth and bag were shaken for 1 minute through an arc of 2 ft in a manner assuring that the broth flowed through the abdominal cavity and over the entire surface of the carcass. Serial dilutions of this broth in Butterfield's buffer were plated using the pour plate procedure with MacConkey's agar with 100 ppm nalidixic acid added. These plates were incubated for 48 hours at 35° C. then counted. Nalidixic acid-resistant colonies were selected and confirmed as Salmonella using FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) Procedures.

As a backup procedure to assure recovery of sub-lethally injured nalidixic acid-resistant salmonella, a 10 ml aliquot of the lactose broth, 0.6 percent tergitol carcass wash was pipetted into a sterile culture tube and incubated for 24 hours at 35° C. In the event that no growth occurred on the MacConkey Agar/nalidixic acid plates, the backup wash was examined for the presence of salmonella using FDA BAM procedures.

The results achieved are shown in Table II which follows. The data for storage at 2.2° C. (36° F.) for 0, 5 and 8 days, is compared to an inoculated control which has been washed only with water.

                                      TABLE II                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Efficacy.sup.a of Treatments of Examples 1 through                             6 against a nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella                                typhimurium inoculated onto fresh broiler carcasses.                           2.2 (36° F.)    Mean Log                                                Storage   Duplicate                                                                             Duplicate                                                                            CFU  CFU Pct.                                           Time (Days)                                                                              A      B     per ml.sup.a                                                                        per ml                                                                             Reduction                                      Duplicates            CFU per ml.sup.a                                         __________________________________________________________________________     Example 1                                                                            0 a 1.9 × 10.sup.5                                                                  7.7 × 10.sup.2                                                                 8.4 × 10.sup.4                                                                4.92                                                                               99.2                                                   b 6.8 × 10.sup.4                                                                  1.0 × 10.sup.3                                                5 a 9.2 × 10.sup.3                                                                  6.4 × 10.sup.3                                                                 7.4 × 10.sup.3                                                                3.87                                                                               99.9                                                   b 8.2 × 10.sup.3                                                                  5.6 × 10.sup.3                                                8 a 8.1 × 10.sup.3                                                                  9.0 × 10.sup.3                                                                 8.1 × 10.sup.3                                                                3.91                                                                               99.9                                                   b 8.7 × 10.sup.3                                                                  6.4 × 10.sup.3                                          Untreated                                                                            --                                                                               --                                                                               1.0 × 10.sup.7                                                                  1.1 × 10.sup.7                                                                 1.1 × 10.sup.7                                                                7.04                                                                               --                                             Control                                                                        Example 2                                                                            0 a 9.0 × 10.sup.1                                                                  7.0 × 10.sup.4                                                                 6.3 × 10.sup.4                                                                4.80                                                                               99.5                                                   b 5.0 × 10.sup.1                                                                  1.8 × 10.sup.5                                                5 a 2.0 × 10.sup.4                                                                  9.6 × 10.sup.3                                                                 1.4 × 10.sup.4                                                                4.14                                                                               99.9                                                   b 1.9 × 10.sup.4                                                                  6.4 × 10.sup.3                                                                 6.4 × 10.sup.3                                          8 a 7.8 × 10.sup.3                                                                  2.2 × 10.sup.4                                                                 1.6 × 10.sup.4                                                                4.19                                                                               99.9                                                   b 7.7 × 10.sup.3                                                                  2.5 × 10.sup.4                                          Untreated                                                                            --                                                                               --                                                                               1.2 × 10.sup.7                                                                  1.2 × 10.sup.7                                                                 1.2 × 10.sup.7                                                                7.08                                                                               --                                             Control                                                                        Example 3                                                                            0 a 1.0 × 10.sup.2                                                                  1.3 × 10.sup.2                                                                 8.3 × 10.sup.1                                                                1.92                                                                               99.999                                                 b 3.0 × 10.sup.1                                                                  7.0 × 10.sup.1                                                5 a 5.7 × 10.sup.2                                                                  1.4 × 10.sup.3                                                                 2.4 × 10.sup.3                                                                3.38                                                                               99.98                                                  b 3.8 × 10.sup.2                                                                  7.2 × 10.sup.3                                                8 a 2.2 × 10.sup.3                                                                  3.3 × 10.sup.3                                                                 3.2 × 10.sup.3                                                                3.51                                                                               99.98                                                  b 1.9 × 10.sup.3                                                                  3.3 × 10.sup.3                                          Untreated                                                                            --                                                                               --                                                                               1.5 × 10.sup.7                                                                  1.5 × 10.sup.7                                                                 1.5 × 10.sup.7                                                                7.18                                                                               --                                             Control                                                                        Example 4                                                                            0 a 2.0 × 10.sup.1                                                                  1.8 × 10.sup.2                                                                 8.5 × 10.sup.1                                                                1.93                                                                               99.999                                                 b 6.0 × 10.sup.1                                                                  8.0 × 10.sup.1                                                5 a 2.1 × 10.sup.3                                                                  8.8 × 10.sup.3                                                                 3.4 × 10.sup.3                                                                3.53                                                                               99.98                                                  b 2.6 × 10.sup.3                                                                  1.2 × 10.sup.2                                                8 a 9.0 × 10.sup.2                                                                  1.8 × 10.sup.3                                                                 1.3 × 10.sup.3                                                                3.11                                                                               99.99                                                  b 1.1 × 10.sup.3                                                                  1.3 × 10.sup.3                                          Untreated                                                                            --                                                                               --                                                                               1.9 × 10.sup.7                                                                  1.3 × 10.sup.7                                                                 1.6 × 10.sup.7                                                                7.20                                                                               ---                                            Control                                                                        Example 5                                                                            0 a 3.0 × 10.sup.1                                                                  6.0 × 10.sup.1                                                                 3.3 × 10.sup.1                                                                1.51                                                                               99.999                                                 b 1.0 × 10.sup.1(+)                                                               4.0 × 10.sup.1                                                5 a 2.1 × 10.sup.3                                                                  4.3 × 10.sup.3                                                                 2.6 × 10.sup.3                                                                3.41                                                                               99.98                                                  b 1.6 × 10.sup.3                                                                  2.4 × 10.sup.3                                                8 a 2.0 × 10.sup.3                                                                  4.9 × 10.sup.2                                          Untreated                                                                            --                                                                               --                                                                               1.0 × 10.sup.7                                                                  1.1 × 10.sup.7                                                                 1.1 × 10.sup.7                                                                7.04                                                                               --                                             Control                                                                        Example 6                                                                            0 a 7.9 × 10.sup.5                                                                  5.9 × 10.sup.5                                                                 7.4 × 10.sup.5                                                                5.87                                                                               90.9                                                   b 1.0 × 10.sup.6                                                                  5.7 × 10.sup.5                                                5 a 4.1 × 10.sup.5                                                                  6.5 × 10.sup.5                                                                 5.2 × 10.sup.5                                                                5.72                                                                               93.6                                                   b 4.3 × 10.sup.5                                                                  5.9 × 10.sup.5                                                8 a 3.1 × 10.sup.5                                                                  4.0 × 10.sup.5                                                                 4.0 × 10.sup.5                                                                4.60                                                                               95.1                                                   b 4.3 × 10.sup.5                                                                  4.5 × 10.sup.5                                          Untreated                                                                            --                                                                               --                                                                               5.2 × 10.sup.6                                                                  1.1 × 10.sup.7                                                                 8.1 × 10.sup. 6                                                               6.91                                                                               --                                             Control                                                                        __________________________________________________________________________      .sup.a Colony Forming Units per ml of carcass wash.                            (+) Back up confirmed positive for nalidixic acidresistant salmonellae.  

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

The inoculum suspension averaged 1.6×10⁸ CFU per ml nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella typhimurium. Uninoculated, untreated control broilers averaged 380 nalidixic acid-resistant salmonella per ml. This number is considered insignificant in light of the inoculum level used in the experiment. Untreated inoculated controls averaged 1.2×10⁷ CFU per ml nalidixic acid-resistant salmonella.

Treatment of inoculated carcass with water wash only (Example 6) gave reductions of 90.9 to 95.1 percent (approximately 1 log-cycle). Therefore, the water rinse by itself removed approximately 90 percent of the nalidixic acid-resistant salmonella.

The treatments of Examples 1 and 2 both give reductions in the 99 to 99.9 percent range (2 to 3 log cycles). Thus the higher concentration and short dwell time of the treatment of Example 1 was approximately equivalent to the lower concentration longer dwell time of the treatment of Example 2.

The treatments of Examples 3 and 4 both gave 99.999 percent (5 log cycle) reductions immediately after treatment (Time 0) as compared to inoculated untreated controls. However, reductions were 99.98 or 99.99 (approximately 4 log cycles) for samples stored for 5 or 8 days at 3.3° C. (38° F.). This may indicate that injured cells not recovered by plating immediately after treatment may be able to effect repair during refrigerated storage. The increased recovery numbers do not indicate growth since salmonella will not grow at temperatures less than 7.2° C. (45° F.).

The treatment of Example 5 gave a reduction of 99.9998 (nearly 6 log-cycles) immediately after treatment. Again, there was increased recovery of nalidixic acid-resistant salmonella at 5 and 8 days compared to immediately after treatment.

EXAMPLES 7 TO 13

Broilers randomly selected from the chill tank and transported on wet ice were treated as in Example 1. Seven treating solutions were prepared, 3 as per the invention and 4 controls. Eleven chickens were dipped at one time in the inoculum for 1 minute and allowed to drain for a specific time. Ten of these broilers were submerged in a specific agent for the time given in Table III. One inoculated broiler was retained as an inoculated untreated control. The birds were placed in Cryovac bags and stored as in Example 1. Duplicate broilers were analyzed for each treatment after 5 and 7 days storage at 2.2° C. (36° F.) and after 3 and 5 days storage at 12.8° C. (55° F.). Enumeration of salmonella was as described in Example 1. The following conditions were used:

                                      TABLE III                                    __________________________________________________________________________                                  Treatment                                              Treatment                                                                             Amount/   Inoculum                                                                              Dwell Time                                        Example                                                                             Agent  20.4 Kg                                                                              Conc.                                                                              Drain Time                                                                            (Minutes)                                         __________________________________________________________________________     7    Na.sub.3 PO.sub.4                                                                     2.45                                                                              kg 12% 2 minutes                                                                             2.0                                               8    Na.sub.3 PO.sub.4                                                                     1.6                                                                               kg 8%  1 hour 15.0                                              9    Na.sub.3 CO.sub.3                                                                     1.6                                                                               kg 8%  1 hour 15.0                                              10   NaOH   0.2                                                                               kg 1%  1 hour 15.0                                              11*  75% H.sub.3 PO.sub.4                                                                  0.54                                                                              kg 2.6%                                                                               1 hour 7.5                                                    25% NaOH                                                                              0.41                                                                              kg 2%  1 hour 7.5                                               12*  75% H.sub.3 PO.sub.4                                                                  0.54                                                                              kg 2.6%                                                                               1 hour 7.5                                                    25% Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3                                                                 1.63                                                                              kg 8%  1 hour 7.5                                               13   Water  --    --  2 minutes                                                                             15.0                                              __________________________________________________________________________      *Examples 11 and 12 were run using two separate baths and two separate         dwell times as listed.                                                         The results are shown in Table IV.                                       

                                      TABLE IV                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Efficacy of treatments of Examples 7 through                                   13 against a nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella                               typhimurium inoculated onto fresh broiler carcasses held at 2.2°        C.                                                                                   2.2° C.                                                                 Storage          Mean  Log                                                     Time Replicates  CFU   CFU Pct.                                          Treatment                                                                            (days)                                                                              B           per ml                                                                               per ml                                                                             Reduction                                     CFU per ml.sup.a                                                               __________________________________________________________________________     Example 7                                                                            0    2.05 × 10.sup.3                                                                1.21 × 10.sup.3                                                                1.6 × 10.sup.3                                                                 3.20                                                                               99.997                                              5    3.35 × 10.sup.5                                                                6.85 × 10.sup.4                                                                2.0 × 10.sup.5                                                                 5.30                                                                               99.69                                               7    1.35 × 10.sup.4                                                                5.5 × 10.sup.3                                                                 9.5 × 10.sup.3                                                                 3.98                                                                               99.985                                        Untreated                                                                            0    6.45 × 10.sup.7                                                                --    6.5 × 10.sup.7                                                                 7.81                                              Control                                                                        Example 8                                                                            0    3.15 × 10.sup.2                                                                7 × 10.sup.1                                                                   1.92 × 10.sup.2                                                                2.28                                                                               99.9993                                             5    1.9 × 10.sup.5                                                                 0 × 10.sup.2                                                                   1.92 × 10.sup.5                                                                5.28                                                                               99.366                                              7    3.9 × 10.sup.6                                                                 1.75 ×  10.sup.6                                                               2.83 × 10.sup.6                                                                6.45                                                                               90.66                                         Untreated                                                                            0    3.0 × 10.sup.7                                                                 --    3.0 × 10.sup.7                                                                 7.48                                              Control                                                                        Example 9                                                                            0    6.3 × 10.sup.3                                                                 3.8 × 10.sup.2                                                                 3.3 × 10.sup.3                                                                 3.52                                                                               99.991                                              5    4.4 × 10.sup.3                                                                 7.5 × 10.sup.2                                                                 2.6 × 10.sup.3                                                                 3.41                                                                               99.993                                              7    1.5 × 10.sup.1                                                                 2.6 × 10.sup.2                                                                 1.4 × 10.sup.2                                                                 2.14                                                                               99.9996                                       Untreated                                                                            0    3.75 × 10.sup.7                                                                --    3.8 × 10.sup.7                                                                 7.57                                              Control                                                                        Example 10                                                                           0    7.0 × 10.sup.1                                                                 4.25 × 10.sup.2                                                                2.5 × 10.sup.2                                                                 2.39                                                                               99.9997                                             5    2.75 × 10.sup.7                                                                8.4 × 10.sup.7                                                                 5.6 × 10.sup.7                                                                 7.75                                                                               42.27                                               7    8.95 × 10.sup.4                                                                3.75 × 10.sup.6                                                                1.9 × 10.sup.6                                                                 6.28                                                                               98.04                                         Untreated                                                                            0    9.7 × 10.sup.7                                                                 --    9.7 × 10.sup.7                                                                 7.99                                                                               --                                            Control                                                                        Example 11                                                                           0    1.0 × 10.sup.1                                                                 6.0 × 10.sup.1                                                                 3.0 × 10.sup.1                                                                 1.477                                                                              99.999                                              5    -1.34 × 10.sup.7                                                               4.0 × 10.sup.7                                                                 2.7 × 10.sup.7                                                                 7.43                                                                               35.71                                               7    1.35 × 10.sup.3                                                                5.45 × 10.sup.3                                                                3.4 × 10.sup.3                                                                 3.53                                                                               99.9919                                       Untreated                                                                            0    4.2 × 10.sup.7                                                                 --    4.2 × 10.sup.7                                                                 7.62                                                                               --                                            Control                                                                        Example 12                                                                           0    5.55 × 10.sup.3                                                                1.7 × 10.sup.3                                                                 3.6 × 10.sup.3                                                                 3.56                                                                               99.987                                              5    1.3 × 10.sup.6                                                                 1.35 × 10.sup.6                                                                1.5 × 10.sup.6                                                                 6.19                                                                               94.83                                               7    1.3 × 10.sup.3                                                                 3.7 × 10.sup.5                                                                 1.9 × 10.sup.5                                                                 5.27                                                                               99.34                                         Untreated                                                                            0    2.85 × 10.sup.7                                                                --    2.9 × 10.sup.7                                                                 7.45                                                                               --                                            Control                                                                        Example 13                                                                           0    4.0 × 10.sup.6                                                                 1.25 × 10.sup.6                                                                2.6 × 10.sup.6                                                                 6.42                                                                               92.777                                              5    1.55 × 10.sup.8                                                                1.65 × 10.sup.8                                                                1.6 × 10.sup.8                                                                 8.20                                                                               no                                                                             reduction                                           7    2.05 × 10.sup.6                                                                8.65 × 10.sup.5                                                                1.5 × 10.sup.6                                                                 6.16                                                                               95.83                                         Untreated                                                                            0    3.6 × 10.sup.7                                                                 --    3.6 × 10.sup.7                                                                 7.56                                                                               --                                            Control                                                                        __________________________________________________________________________

The untreated controls were prepared by dipping the carcass in inoculum and draining for the same period as the treated sample. The enumeration of nalidixic acid-resistant salmonella was conducted without storage.

                                      TABLE V                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Percentage reductions of nalidixic acid-                                       resistant salmonella due to various treatments.sup.1 followed                  by storage at 2.2° C. for 0, 5 and 7 days. Compiled from                Table IV.                                                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Time (Days)                                                                           0    0    0    0   0   0   0                                            Example                                                                               10   8    11   7   9   12  13                                           Reduction                                                                             99.9997                                                                             99.9993                                                                             99.9990                                                                             99.997                                                                             99.991                                                                             99.987                                                                             92.777                                       Time (Days)                                                                           5    5    5    5   5   5   5                                            Example                                                                               9    7    8    12  10  11  13                                           Reduction                                                                             99.993                                                                              99.69                                                                               99.366                                                                              94.83                                                                              42.27                                                                              35.71                                                                              --                                           Time (Days)                                                                           7    7    7    7   7   7   7                                            Example                                                                               9    11   7    12  10  13  8                                            Reduction                                                                             99.9996                                                                             99.9919                                                                             99.985                                                                              99.34                                                                              98.04                                                                              95.83                                                                              90.66                                        __________________________________________________________________________      .sup.1 Treatments listed in descending order of effectiveness for a given      storage time.                                                            

                                      TABLE VI                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Efficacy of treatments of Examples 7 through                                   13 against a nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella                               typhimurium inoculated onto fresh broiler carcasses held at 12.8°       C.                                                                                  12.8° C.                                                                Storage                                                                             Replicates  Mean  Log                                                     Time Mean of 2 dup.                                                                             CFU   CFU  Pct.                                          Example                                                                             (days)                                                                              CFU per ml. per ml                                                                               per ml                                                                              Reduction                                     __________________________________________________________________________     7    3    2.9 × 10.sup.5                                                                 2.9 × 10.sup.5                                                                 2.9 × 10.sup.5                                                                 5.46 99.55                                              5    6.85 × 10.sup.2                                                                2.45 × 10.sup.6                                                                1.2 × 10.sup.6                                                                 6.09 98.15                                         8    3    6.95 × 10.sup.4                                                                1.9 × 10.sup.4                                                                 4.4 × 10.sup.4                                                                 4.65 99.85                                              5    1.02 × 10.sup.6                                                                2.05 × 10.sup.2                                                                5.1 × 10.sup.5                                                                 5.71 98.3                                          9    3    2.35 × 10.sup.2                                                                3.95 × 10.sup.4                                                                2.0 × 10.sup.4                                                                 4.30 99.947                                             5    1 × 10.sup.1                                                                   1 × 10.sup.1                                                                   1.0 × 10.sup.1                                                                 1    99.999                                        10   3    1.11 × 10.sup.6                                                                2.7 × 10.sup.6                                                                 1.9 × 10.sup.6                                                                 6.28 98.04                                              5    4.57 × 10.sup.3                                                                1.9 × 10.sup.5                                                                 9.7 × 10.sup.4                                                                 4.99 99.9                                          11   3    3.65 × 10.sup.6                                                                2.45 × 10.sup.6                                                                3.1 × 10.sup.6                                                                 6.48 92.62                                              5    7.95 × 10.sup.3                                                                8.55 × 10.sup.2                                                                4.4 × 10.sup.3                                                                 3.64 99.989                                        12   3    2.3 × 10.sup.4                                                                 6.0 × 10.sup.5                                                                 3.1 × 10.sup.5                                                                 5.49 98.93                                              5    6.3 × 10.sup.2                                                                 3.95 × 10.sup.2                                                                5.1 × 10.sup.2                                                                 2.71 99.998                                        13   3    6.7 × 10.sup.6                                                                 5.85 × 10.sup.6                                                                6.3 × 10.sup.6                                                                 6.80 82.5                                               5    2.5 × 10.sup.6                                                                 1.1 × 10.sup.7                                                                 6.75 × 10.sup.6                                                                6.83 81.1                                          __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE VII                                    __________________________________________________________________________     Percentage reductions.sup.1 of nalidixic acid-                                 resistant salmonella due to various treatments.sup.2 followed                  by storage at 12.8° C. Compiled from Tables IV and                      __________________________________________________________________________     VI.                                                                            Time (days)                                                                           0    0    0    0   0   0   0                                            Example                                                                               10   8    11   7   9   12  13                                           Reduction                                                                             99.9997                                                                             99.9993                                                                             99.9990                                                                             99.997                                                                             99.991                                                                             99.987                                                                             92.777                                       Time (days)                                                                           5    5    5    5   5   5   5                                            Example                                                                               9    8    7    12  10  11  13                                           Reduction                                                                             99.947                                                                              99.85                                                                               99.55                                                                               98.93                                                                              98.04                                                                              92.62                                                                              82.5                                         Time (days)                                                                           7    7    7    7   7   7   7                                            Example                                                                               9    12   11   10  8   7   13                                           Reduction                                                                             99.999                                                                              99.998                                                                              99.989                                                                              99.90                                                                              98.3                                                                               98.15                                                                              81.10                                        __________________________________________________________________________      .sup.1 Treatments listed in descending order of effectiveness for a give       storage time.                                                                  .sup.2 Zero time data is listed in Table IV. Data for 3 and 5 days storag      at 12.8° C. is listed in Table VI.                                

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

For Examples 7 to 13, untreated inoculated controls averaged 4.8×10⁷ CFU nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella typhimurium per ml of carcass wash (Table IX). No nalidixic acid-resistant salmonella were detected in uninoculated, untreated controls (not listed). salmonella were detected in uninoculated, untreated controls (not listed).

Table IV lists results of enumeration of nalidixic acid-resistant salmonella from carcass rinse solutions for inoculated broilers subjected to the seven test treatments at 0 days storage and at 5 and 7 days storage at 2.2° C. Table V lists the percent reduction in numbers of nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella typhimurium for each treatment in order of greatest effectiveness at a given storage time (0, 5 or 7 days) at 2.2° C. At time 0, treatments of Examples 10, 8 and 11 were most effective immediately producing 99.9997, 99.9993 and 99.9990 percent reductions, respectively. However, at day 5 the percent reduction for the treatments of Examples 10, 8 and 11 were 42.27, 99.3666, and 35.71, respectively. At day 7, the percentage reductions were 98.04, 90.66 and 99.9919, respectively, for the treatments of Example 10, 8 and 11. These observations reflect recovery of sub-lethally injured cells during refrigerated storage rather than outgrowth of salmonella during refrigerated storage at 2.2° C.

Table VI lists results of enumeration of nalidixic acid-resistant salmonella from carcass rinse solutions for inoculated broilers subjected to the 7 treatments, then subsequently stored at 12.8° C. for 3 or 5 days. Initial (day 0) counts are listed in Table IV. The percentage reductions from Table VII for carcasses stored at 12.8° C. are listed in Table VII together with the initial (day 0) reduction from Table IV to facilitate comparison. Note that the recovery of injured cells observed at 2.2° C. also occurs at 12.8° C. Again, no growth is evident during the time period of this study, even at the 12.8° C. storage temperature, which reflects moderate to severe temperature abuse.

One important situation not reflected in the microbiological data is the fact that for the sodium hydroxide treatments of Examples 10 and 11, severe sloughing of broiler skin occurred, resulting in a very unacceptable appearance. Both of these treatments are undesirable for commercial use.

The treatments of Examples 7 and 8, both of which involved the use of Na₃ PO₄. 12H₂ O, were essentially as effective as the treatments of Examples 10 (sodium hydroxide) and 11, (phosphoric acid and sodium hydroxide) without the accompanying adverse effects on appearance of the broiler carcasses. The treatments of Examples 7 and 8 involving the use of Na₃ PO₄.12H₂ O gave an approximately one log cycle greater kill initially that did the treatments of Examples 9 (Na₂ CO₃) and 12 (75% H₃ PO₄)/Na₂ CO₃, both of which involved the use of Na₂ CO₃. However, the percent reduction for the treatment of Example 9 (Na₂ CO₃) increased with storage at 2.2° C., so that it had the greatest percent reduction after 5 and 7 days storage at 2.2° C., of any of the 7 treatments (Table V). These trends were essentially the same for the studies conducted at 12.8° C.

EXAMPLES 14 TO 22

Two Grade A broilers at a time were removed from a processing plant after an inside and outside spray body wash just prior to the chill tanks. These are referred to as pre-chill birds. The birds' temperature ranged from about 35° to 40° C. The birds were placed in a room temperature treatment solution which was prepared that morning in the concentrations of trisodium orthophosphate indicated in the example. The birds were removed from the processing line using sterile gloves, and placed in the treatment solution for the treatment time indicated. Another person then removed the birds from the treatment solution and put the birds in a sterile plastic bag ready for assay and containing 200 ml of sterile buffer. The bag was closed and shaken for one minute following standard procedure to thoroughly contact the buffer and bird. The buffer was directed to the bottom of the bag. The outside of the bag was sterilized, a bottom corner of the bag cut and the buffer drained into a sterile bottle. The buffer was neutralized to pH 7 using hydrochloric acid and the samples sent to USDA laboratory for standard analysis. Birds were treated with 6%, 9% and 12% trisodium orthophosphate for dip times of 5 seconds, 10 seconds and 15 seconds and were sprayed inside and out for 3 seconds and 10 seconds. In spraying, the inside was sprayed for 1 second and the outside for 2 seconds or the inside was sprayed for 3 seconds and the outside for 7 seconds using a hand sprayer.

Two birds at a time were also removed on just exiting the chill tank at a temperature of 0° to 10° C. and similarly treated with trisodium orthophosphate and treated for analysis in a similar way. These birds are referred to as post-chill birds.

Analysis of the birds was done the first day of treatment and six days later. Two birds were treated and tested at each treatment dip or spray time at 0 days and six days giving a total of four birds for each dip or spray time. Two or three days data is available for a total of eight birds used each day for each dip or spray test condition. The raw results are given in the following tables, where test 14 is 6%, test 15 is 9%, test 16 is 12% trisodium phosphate, all for post-chill treatment; test 17 is 6%, test 18 is 9% and test 19 is 12% trisodium orthophosphate all for pre-chill treatment and test 20 and 21 are post-chill treatment by spray with 12% solution of trisodium orthophosphate and Example 22 is pre-chill spray treatment with 12% trisodium orthophosphate.

Examples A and B of Tables VIII and IX are treatments with two days sampling for total plate count, Examples G and H of Tables XIV and XV are two days sampling for Salmonella.

Control data is included at the bottom of the tables. In any one days test, poultry from about six houses was sampled and treated perhaps accounting for the wide variation in some data.

                                      TABLE VIII                                   __________________________________________________________________________     Results (Day III) of Analysis for Total Plate Count                                           DIP TIME                                                                       5 Seconds                                                                              10 seconds                                                                             15 seconds                                      EXAMPLE                                                                               TREATMENT                                                                              0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                             0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                             0 days                                                                             6 days                                      __________________________________________________________________________            Post-chill                                                              14A    6%      50  170 <10 360 <10 150                                                        <10 7,300                                                                              30  140 <10 330                                         15A    9%      <10 100 270 50  10  60                                                         <10 130 70  10  10  220                                         16A    12%     10  3,400                                                                              50  340 10  80                                                         <10 140 50  190 <10 80                                                 Pre-chill                                                               17A    6%      520 570 480 1,200                                                                              760 250                                                        410 490 320 930 70  410                                         18A    9%      240 340 4,600                                                                              910 430 270                                                        150 610 710 270 750 130                                         19A    12%     440 330 160 550 500 5,300                                                      140 820 610 1,100                                                                              260 260                                         __________________________________________________________________________                      SPRAY TIME                                                                     * 3 seconds ** 10 seconds                                                        0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                               0 days                                                                             6 days                                        __________________________________________________________________________            Post-chill                                                              20A    12%         170 190   -   -                                                                30  410   -   -                                             21A    12%         -   -     10  180                                                              -   -     40  150                                                  Pre-chill                                                               22A    12%         40  -     -   -                                                                280 -     -   -                                             __________________________________________________________________________     * 2 seconds outside and 1 second inside                                        ** 7 seconds outside and 3 seconds inside                                      Control Post-chill                                                                      Control Pre-chill                                                     0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                              0 days                                                                             6 days                                                            380 650  440 -                                                                 250 290  -   -                                                                 NOTE: Data in Table is represented as number/ml.                          

                                      TABLE IX                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Results (Day II) of Analysis for Total Plate Count                                            DIP TIME                                                                       5 seconds                                                                              10 seconds                                                                             15 seconds                                      EXAMPLE                                                                               TREATMENT                                                                              0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                             0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                             0 days                                                                             6 days                                      __________________________________________________________________________            Post-chill                                                              14B    6%      -   -   4,100                                                                              160 11,000                                                                             100                                                        -   -   25  130 5,100                                                                              380                                         15B    9%      5,000                                                                              570 3,100                                                                              160 2,100                                                                              90                                                         4,900                                                                              130 2,700                                                                              800 2,100                                                                              50                                          16B    12%     2,200                                                                              110 2,200                                                                              920 1,200                                                                              7,000                                                      2,500                                                                              120 3,600                                                                              470 2,800                                                                              210                                                Pre-chill                                                               17B    6%      4,300                                                                              730 2,000                                                                              920 1,200                                                                              7,000                                                      310 930 200 32,000                                                                             480 1,000                                       18B    9       4,700                                                                              430 760 610 500 1,000                                                      300 330 3,500                                                                              2,400                                                                              340 300                                         19B    12%     400 140 510 240 400 320                                                        1,400                                                                              160 400 410 390 310                                         __________________________________________________________________________     Control post-chill                                                             0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                       370                                                                              2,400                                                                      2,100                                                                                190                                                                      Note: Data in Table is represented as number/ml                           

                                      TABLE X                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Results (Day III) of Analysis for Enterobacteriaceae                                          DIP TIME                                                                       5 Seconds                                                                              10 seconds                                                                             15 seconds                                      EXAMPLE                                                                               TREATMENT                                                                              0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                             0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                             0 days                                                                             6 days                                      __________________________________________________________________________            Post-chill                                                              14C    6%      90  200 133 250 4   67                                                         30  660 13  55  70  55                                          15C    9%      10  78  12,000                                                                             220 2,100                                                                              39                                                         <1  43  37  52  1,300                                                                              53                                          16C    12%     <1  3,900                                                                              2   170 <1  7                                                          1   56  <1  170 <1  29                                                 Pre-chill                                                               17C    6%      32  77  22  250 19  280                                                        71  160 41  350 25  340                                         18C    9%      13  1   96  280 52  100                                                        23  <1  300 130 75  59                                          19C    12%     112 13  28  <1  165 70                                                         30  <1  49  <1  8   10                                          __________________________________________________________________________                      SPRAY TIME                                                                     * 3 seconds ** 10 seconds                                                        0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                               0 days                                                                             6 days                                        __________________________________________________________________________             Post-chill                                                             20C    12%         51  5     -   -                                                                7   12    -   -                                             21C    12%         -   -     6   2                                                                -   -     2   16                                                   Pre-chill                                                               22C    12%         7   -     -   -                                                                7   -     -   -                                             __________________________________________________________________________     * 2 seconds outside and 1 second inside                                        ** 7 seconds outside and 3 seconds inside                                      Control Post-chill                                                                      Control Pre-chill                                                     0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                              0 days                                                                             6 days                                                            79  34   53  -                                                                 40  73   -   -                                                                 Note: Data in Table is represented as number/ml                           

                                      TABLE XI                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Results (Day II) of Analysis for Enterobacteriaceae                                           DIP TIME                                                                       5 seconds                                                                              10 seconds                                                                             15 seconds                                      EXAMPLE                                                                               TREATMENT                                                                              0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                             0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                             0 days                                                                             6 days                                      __________________________________________________________________________            Post-chill                                                              14D    6%      -   -   3   33  2   25                                                         -   -   <1  31  130 97                                          15D    9%      <1  43  7   22  <1  11                                                         9   11  3   19  1   60                                          16D    12%     2   7   3   8   <1  9                                                          4   10  <1  17  <1  39                                                 Pre-chill                                                               17D    6%      20  3,500                                                                              66  130 98  3,600                                                      22  70  33  390 93  880                                         18D    9%      72  330 77  360 34  630                                                        41  150 95  3,700                                                                              39  86                                          19D    12%     27  51  78  53  51  38                                                         120 560 25  170 23  170                                         __________________________________________________________________________     Control Post-chill                                                             0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                     -     132                                                                      -   60,000                                                                     Note: Data in Table is represented as number/ml                           

                                      TABLE XII                                    __________________________________________________________________________     Results (Day III) of Analysis for E. coli                                                     DIP TIME                                                                       5 Seconds                                                                              10 seconds                                                                             15 seconds                                      EXAMPLE                                                                               TREATMENT                                                                              0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                             0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                             0 days                                                                             6 days                                      __________________________________________________________________________            Post-chill                                                              14E    6%      40  52  85  30  3   9                                                          6   30  5   10  13  2                                           15E    9%      <1  32  1,200                                                                              51  30  12                                                         <1  5   <1  6   1,200                                                                              14                                          16E    12%     <1  8   <1  7   <1  2                                                          <1  10  <1  16  <1  10                                                 Pre-chill                                                               17E    6%      27  41  9   50  9   33                                                         57  100 22  250 13  80                                          18E    9%      10  1   94  100 36  48                                                         21  <1  300 61  61  6                                           19E    12%     107 <1  13  1   78  23                                                         15  <1  47  <1  3   <1                                          __________________________________________________________________________                      SPRAY TIME                                                                     * 3 seconds ** 10 seconds                                                        0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                                0 days                                                                            6 days                                        __________________________________________________________________________            Post-chill                                                              20E    12%         1   <1    -   -                                                                2   2     -   -                                             21E    12%         -   -     1   <1                                                               -   -     <1  14                                                   Pre-chill                                                               22E    12%         <1  -     -   -                                                                1   -     -   -                                             __________________________________________________________________________     * 2 seconds outside and 1 second inside                                        ** 7 seconds outside and 3 seconds inside                                      Control Post-chill                                                                      Control pre-chill                                                     0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                              0 days                                                                             6 days                                                            12   4   50  -                                                                 33  20   -   -                                                                 Note: Data in Table is represented as number/ml                           

                                      TABLE XIII                                   __________________________________________________________________________     Results (Day II) of Analysis for E. coli                                                      DIP TIME                                                                       5 seconds                                                                              10 seconds                                                                             15 seconds                                      EXAMPLE                                                                               TREATMENT                                                                              0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                             0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                             0 days                                                                             6 days                                      __________________________________________________________________________            Post-chill                                                              14F    6%      -   -   <1  11  <1  10                                                         -   -   <1  3   4   73                                          15F    9%      <1  23  <1  7   <1  3                                                          2   2   <1  12  <1  8                                           16F    12%     <1  2   <1  3   <1  1                                                          <1  5   <1  5   <1  31                                                 Pre-chill                                                               17F    6%      7   58  8   63  36  37                                                         7   57  4   350 12  81                                          18F    9%      22  13  22  10  7   29                                                         7   20  21  1,400                                                                              7   15                                          19F    12%     5   20  29  24  10  21                                                         36  1   5   153 2   12                                          __________________________________________________________________________     Control post-chill                                                             0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                     20    36                                                                       15  3,100                                                                      Note: Data in Table is represented as number/ml                           

                                      TABLE XIV                                    __________________________________________________________________________     Results (Day III) of Analysis for Salmonella                                                  DIP TIME                                                                       5 Seconds                                                                              10 seconds                                                                             15 seconds                                      EXAMPLE                                                                               TREATMENT                                                                              0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                             0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                             0 days                                                                             6 days                                      __________________________________________________________________________            Post-chill                                                              14G    6%      -   -   -   -   -   -                                                          -   -   -   -   -   -                                           15G    9%      -   -   -   +   -   -                                                          -   -   -   -   -   -                                           15G    12%     -   -   -   -   -   -                                                          -   -   -   -   -   -                                                  Pre-chill                                                               17G    6%      -   -   -   -   -   -                                                          -   -   +   -   -   -                                           18G    9%      -   +   -   -   -   -                                                          -   +   -   -   -   -                                           19G    12%     -   -   -   -   -   -                                                          -   +   -   -   -   -                                           __________________________________________________________________________                      SPRAY TIME                                                                     * 3 seconds ** 10 seconds                                                        0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                               0 days                                                                             6 days                                        __________________________________________________________________________            Post-chill                                                              20G    12%         -   -     NA  NA                                                               -   -     NA  NA                                            21G    12%         NA  NA    -   -                                                                NA  NA    -   -                                                    Pre-chill                                                               22G    12%         -   NA    NA  NA                                                               -   NA    NA  NA                                            __________________________________________________________________________     * 2 seconds outside and 1 second inside                                        ** 7 seconds outside and 3 seconds inside                                      Control Post-chill                                                                      Control Pre-chill                                                     0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                              0 days                                                                              6 days                                                           -   +    -    NA                                                               -   -    NA   NA                                                               Note: Data in Table is represented as number/25 ml                        

                                      TABLE XV                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Results (Day II) of Analysis for Salmonella                                                   DIP TIME                                                                       5 Seconds                                                                              10 seconds                                                                             15 seconds                                      EXAMPLE                                                                               TREATMENT                                                                              0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                             0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                             0 days                                                                             6 days                                      __________________________________________________________________________            Post-chill                                                              14H    6%      NA  NA  -   -   -   -                                                          NA  NA  -   -   -   -                                           15H    9%      -   -   -   -   -   -                                                          -   -   -   -   -   -                                           16H    12%     -   -   -   -   -   -                                                          -   -   -   -   -   -                                                  Pre-chill                                                               17H    6%      -   -   +   -   +   -                                                          -   -   -   -   -   -                                           18H    9%      -   -   -   -   -   -                                                          -   -   +   -   -   -                                           19H    12%     -   -   -   -   -   -                                                          -   -   -   -   -   -                                           __________________________________________________________________________     Control Post-chill                                                             0 days                                                                             6 days                                                                     -   -                                                                          -   -                                                                          Note: Data in Table is represented as number/25 ml.                       

RESULTS Table VIII

The pre-chill results of the total plate count tests are inconclusive but the post-chill treatment with trisodium orthophosphate did reduce the plate count compared to control. Spray results would indicate reduction in plate count due to treatment.

Table IX

The results are inconclusive.

Table X

The pre-chill and post-chill treatment, dip or spray, with trisodium orthophosphate is effective in reducing the count of Enterobacteriaceae with the spray results very positive.

Table XI

The data appears to confirm the reduction in bacteria found in Table X, especially post-chill treatment.

Table XII

The pre-chill and post-chill treatment, dip or spray, with trisodium orthophosphate is effective in reducing the count of E. coli, particularly at higher trisodium orthophosphate concentration.

Tables XIV and XV

The treatment with trisodium orthophosphate results in only one incident of salmonella presence in post-chill treatment.

Trialkali metal phosphate solution at 4% or greater is also effective against campylobacter type organisms such as C. jejuni and the like.

EXAMPLE 23

Further tests were conducted on whole uninoculated broiler carcasses without giblets removed right after the chilling step in a poultry process. The birds were obtained from a local poultry processor on the day of slaughter. Three hundred carcasses packed on ice and held in a cooler (40°) on ice until used in the study. The birds were taken randomly from the boxes for each of the tests.

Sterile solutions of varying concentrations of trisodium orthophosphate were previously prepared each day for the day's tests. A total of 60 birds were tested per trisodium phosphate concentration for three exposure times resulting in 20 birds tested for each TSP concentration/exposure time variable. The testing was done over 4 separate days (over a 7 day period) with five birds per TSP/exposure time variable studies each day.

On each day a trial was conducted, an adequate number of birds for each test variable were randomly selected from each of the shipping cartons being held under refrigeration. The birds were placed in the designated TSP solution and gently agitated during the exposure time. After the specified immersion time was completed, the birds were removed from the solution legs first and drained for a period of 30 seconds. After the drain period each processed bird was placed in a separate sterile plastic bag containing 200 ml of sterile Butterfield's Phosphate Buffer and rinsed for one minute by shaking through a one foot arc. After the whole carcass rinse procedure was completed, the rinse waters were divided into two equal aliquots (ca. 100 ml each) in sterile whirlpak bags. One of the two rinse waters obtained from each bird was immediately neutralized using 12N HCl prior to adding the 10X Lactose Broth enrichment medium and held at room temperature for 30 minutes. The second rinse water per bird was enriched with 10X Lactose Broth immediately, held at room temperature for 30 minutes, and then neutralized with 6N HCl. That Broth enriched wash waters were then incubated at 35° C. for 24 hours prior to evaluation by the Gene Trak Systems® colorimetric DNA probe test for the rapid detection of Salmonella species (FDA, 1984; Rose, et al., 1991). Samples determined to be positive by the gene probe assay were confirmed by conventional culture methodology (USDA, 1974). These assays determine the presence (positive) or absence (negative) of salmonella DNA.

The results are summarized in Tables XVI-XXIII.

The data is summarized for all four days tests where the incident of salmonella on control birds was extremely low and unexpected. The data in Tables XVI-XXI (neutralized and unneutralized buffer) clearly shows that dipping poultry in treatment solutions containing 8% and 12% trisodium orthophosphate reduces salmonella incidence to zero in the 10 second and 30 second dip tests. The overall results in Table XXII for the testing show no salmonella present on 20 birds when treated with solutions of 8% and 12% trisodium orthophosphate for 10 and 30 second dip times and only 1 contaminated bird for the 15 minute dip time compared to 5 contaminated birds for control, 5 contaminated birds for 1% TSP and 4 contaminated birds for 4% TSP.

Table XXIII summarizes the percent of positive incidence of Salmonella found for each bird after treatment and clearly shows that treatment of broilers during processing with at least about 4% trisodium orthophosphate reduces the incidence of Salmonella contamination. The present experiment on uninoculated birds is clear evidence that high concentrations of trisodium orthophosphate solution is unexpectedly able to reduce the incidence of natural Salmonella contamination on broilers compared to a water wash or use of low concentrations (1% or less) trisodium phosphate. The test results of Tables XXII and XXIII confirm the earlier results set forth herein which indicate that a treatment solution containing about 4% or more trisodium orthophosphate is effective to remove, reduce or retard salmonella and other bacteria on poultry.

                  TABLE XVI                                                        ______________________________________                                         Salmonella Incidence on Post-Chill                                             Whole Broilers after 10 seconds                                                exposure to Trisodium Orthophosphate                                           (TSP) (Neutralized Buffer)                                                              10 sec Dip                                                                     Incidence per day                                                              5 birds for each test                                                 Concentration                                                                             1st     2nd    3rd   4th  Average for                               TSP        day     day    day   day  4 days                                    ______________________________________                                         0          0/5     1/5    0/5   1/5  2/20                                      1%         1/5     0/5    0/5   1/5  2/20                                      4%         0/5     1/5    1/5   0/5  2/20                                      8%         0/5     0/5    0/5   0/5  0/20                                      12%        0/5     0/5    0/5   0/5  0/20                                      ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE XVII                                                       ______________________________________                                         Salmonella Incidence on Post-Chill                                             Whole Broilers after 10 seconds of                                             Trisodium Orthophosphate (TSP) (Neutralized Buffer)                                     30 Sec. Dip                                                                    Incidence per day                                                              5 birds for each test                                                 Concentration                                                                             1st     2nd    3rd   4th  Average for                               TSP        day     day    day   day  4 days                                    ______________________________________                                         0          0/5     0/5    0/5   1/5  1/20                                      1%         1/5     1/5    0/5   0/5  2/20                                      4%         0/5     0/5    0/5   1/5  1/20                                      8%         0/5     0/5    0/5   0/5  0/20                                      12%        0/5     0/5    0/5   0/5  0/20                                      ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE XVIII                                                      ______________________________________                                         Salmonella Incidence on Post-Chill                                             Whole Broilers after 15 minutes                                                Exposure to Trisodium Orthophosphate                                           (TSP) (Neutralized Buffer)                                                              15 Minute Dip                                                                  Incidence per day                                                              5 birds for each test                                                 Concentration                                                                             1st     2nd    3rd   4th  Average for                               TSP        day     day    day   day  4 days                                    ______________________________________                                         0          1/5     0/5    0/5   0/5  1/20                                      1%         0/5     1/5    0/5   0/5  1/20                                      4%         1/5     0/5    0/5   0/5  1/20                                      8%         0/5     0/5    0/5   0/5  0/20                                      12%        1/5     0/5    0/5   0/5  1/20                                      ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE XIX                                                        ______________________________________                                         Salmonella Incidence on Post-Chill                                             Whole Broilers after 10 seconds                                                exposure to Trisodium Orthophosphate                                           (TSP) (Non-Neutralized Buffer)                                                          10 Second                                                                      Incidence per day                                                              5 birds for each test                                                 Concentration                                                                             1st     2nd    3rd   4th  Average of                                TSP        day     day    day   day  all 4 days                                ______________________________________                                         0          0/5     0/5    0/5   1/5  1/20                                      1%         0/5     0/5    0/5   1/5  1/20                                      4%         0/5     0/5    1/5   0/5  1/20                                      8%         0/5     0/5    0/5   0/5  0/20                                      12%        0/5     0/5    0/5   0/5  0/20                                      ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE XX                                                         ______________________________________                                         Salmonella Incidence on Post-Chill                                             Whole Broilers after 15 minutes                                                exposure to Trisodium Orthophosphate                                           (TSP) (Non-Neutralized Buffer)                                                          30 Seconds Dip                                                                 Incidence per day                                                              5 birds for each test                                                 Concentration                                                                             1st     2nd    3rd   4th  Average of                                TSP        day     day    day   day  all 4 days                                ______________________________________                                         0%         0/5     1/5    0/5   1/5  2/20                                      1%         0/5     0/5    0/5   0/5  0/20                                      4%         0/5     0/5    0/5   1/5  1/20                                      8%         0/5     0/5    0/5   0/5  0/20                                      12%        0/5     0/5    0/5   0/5  0/20                                      ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE XVI                                                        ______________________________________                                         Salmonella Incidence on Post-Chill                                             Whole Broilers after 15 minutes                                                exposure to Trisodium Orthophosphate                                           (TSP) (Non-Neutralized Buffer)                                                          15 Minutes Dip                                                                 Incidence per day                                                              5 birds for each test                                                 Concentration                                                                             1st     2nd    3rd   4th  Average for                               TSP        day     day    day   day  4 days                                    ______________________________________                                         0%         0/5     0/5    0/5   0/5  0/20                                      1%         0/5     0/5    0/5   0/5  0/20                                      4%         0/5     0/5    0/5   0/5  0/20                                      8%         0/5     0/5    0/5   0/5  0/20                                      12%        1/5     0/5    0/5   0/5  1/20                                      ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE XXII                                                       ______________________________________                                         Detection of Salmonella positive post-chill whole broiler carcasses            after exposure to various concentrations of Trisodium                          Phosphate (all trials)                                                                 Trisodium                                                                      Phosphate              Non-                                            Exposure                                                                               Concentration                                                                               Neutralized                                                                              Neutralized                                     Time    (% w/w)      Buffer    Buffer  Total.sup.a                             ______________________________________                                         10 Seconds                                                                             0            .sup. 2/20.sup.b                                                                         1/20    2/20                                            1            2/20      0/20    2/20                                            4            2/20      1/20    2/20                                            8            0/20      0/20    0/20                                            12           0/20      0/20    0/20                                    30 Seconds                                                                             0            1/20      1/20    2/20                                            1            2/20      0/20    2/20                                            4            1/20      1/20    1/20                                            8            0/20      0/20    0/20                                            12           0/20      0/20    0/20                                    15 Minutes                                                                             0            1/20      0/20    1/20                                            1            1/20      0/20    1/20                                            4            1/20      0/20    1/20                                            8            0/20      0/20    0/20                                            12           1/20      1/20    1/20                                    ______________________________________                                          .sup.a Total number of individual birds found to be positive for               Salmonella.                                                                    .sup.b Number of individual birds positive for Salmonella per number of        individual birds tested.                                                 

                  TABLE XXIII                                                      ______________________________________                                         Percent of Salmonella positive post-chill whole broiler carcasses              detected after exposure to various                                             concentrations of Trisodium Phosphate.sup.a                                    Trisodium Phosphate                                                            Concentration    Percent Positive                                              ______________________________________                                         0                8.3                                                           1                8.3                                                           4                6.7                                                           8                0                                                             12               1.7                                                           ______________________________________                                          .sup.a Percent of birds found to be positive for Salmonella for all            exposure times for all trials.                                           

Trisodium phosphate either alone or in combination with other food ingredients seems to have great potential for use in elimination salmonella on poultry.

EXAMPLE 24

Further tests were conducted on whole uninoculated broiler carcasses right after the chilling step in a poultry process. The broilers were sampled at random from each of three chillers over a three hour period. Some 9 birds were tested as control using standard plate count techniques for campylobacter and an enrichment test which is more sensitive for campylobacter. An equal number of birds were subjected to a 1 second dip and 15 second dip in a 10% trisodium phosphate solution and then similarly tested. Results are set forth in Table XXIV below.

                  TABLE XXIV                                                       ______________________________________                                                                        % birds positive                                        Plate test  Enrichment for campylobacter                                       positive    test positive                                                                             by enrichment                                   Treatment                                                                              of total birds                                                                             of total birds                                                                            process                                         ______________________________________                                         Control 4 of 9      6 of 9     67%                                             1 Second                                                                               1 of 9      2 of 9     22%                                             dip in 10%                                                                     TSP                                                                            15 Second                                                                              0 of 9      1 of 9     11%                                             dip in 10%                                                                     TSP                                                                            ______________________________________                                    

Campylobacter was isolated from 67% of untreated controls. The 1 second dip in 10% trisodium phosphate solution lowers the number of birds from which campylobacter was isolated to 22% while a 15 second dip reduced the incident of campylobacter to 11% of the birds tested. The less sensitive plate culture procedure yielded 44% positive for untreated controls, 11% positive for a one second TSP dip and no positive (no campylobacter) after a 15 second TSP dip.

The plate count isolation data also suggested some die-off or reduction in campylobacter numbers with time as birds were held in a refrigerator.

This work confirmed a previous study which found non-rinsed control birds had a 56% incidence of campylobacter compared to a 33% incidence after a 1 second rinse with TSP solution and a 22% incidence after a 15 second rinse with TSP solution. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for treating poultry carcasses comprising contacting the poultry carcasses with a treatment solution containing about 4% or greater trialkali metal orthophosphate, based on the weight of the solution, with the proviso that the treatment solution does not contain alcohol, said treatment solution having a pH of at least 12.0, said contacting being conducted for a period of time effective to remove, reduce or retard bacterial contamination and/or growth and insufficient to cause organoleptic depreciation of the poultry.
 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the amount of phosphate is about 8% or greater based on the weight of the solution.
 3. A process as recited in claim 1 wherein said orthophosphate is trisodium orthophosphate.
 4. A process as recited in claim 1 wherein said pH ranges from about 12.0 to about 13.5.
 5. A process as recited in claim 1 wherein residual phosphate is left on the poultry carcasses to provide reduced bacterial activity on the surface of the poultry carcasses.
 6. A process as recited in claim 1 wherein said poultry carcasses are treated at a temperature of 0° C. to 70° C. to remove, reduce or retard campylobacter contamination and/or growth.
 7. A process as recited in claim 1 wherein said poultry carcasses are treated at a temperature of 27° C. or less to remove, reduce or retard campylobacter contamination and/or growth.
 8. A process as recited in claim 1 wherein said poultry carcasses are treated at a temperature equal to or less than 10° C. to remove, reduce or retard campylobacter contamination and/or growth.
 9. A process as recited in claim 1 wherein said poultry carcasses are treated by a dip or spray for from one second to two hours at a temperature of less than 27° C.
 10. A process for treating poultry carcasses comprising contacting the surface of poultry carcasses with a treatment solution having a pH of at least pH 11.6, said solution consisting essentially of trialkali metal orthophosphate present in an amount of from 4%, or greater, based on the weight of the solution, said contacting being conducted for a period of time effective to remove, reduce or retard bacterial contamination and/or growth.
 11. The process of claim 10 wherein the amount of orthophosphate is from 4% to saturation and the pH ranges from 12.0 to 13.5.
 12. The process of claim 11 wherein the orthophosphate is trisodium orthophosphate and the bacterial contamination and/or growth includes campylobacter.
 13. The process of claim 12 wherein the poultry carcasses are surface treated at a temperature below 27° C. for one second to two hours.
 14. The process of claim 13 wherein the poultry carcasses are treated at a temperature below 10° C. for 2 to 30 seconds. 